Oh blimey, I seem to have been here before......
Heard - Like others, heard wee bits on Peely's Top Gear in 1968. Wunnerful Radio 1 was fizzy AM, so they didn't really register, also the tranny kept falling in the bath (I wished he'd stop doing it). Turned out friend Rod (the sod, not the Mod) owned a copy of What We Did On Our Holidays.
"Oh yeah, Fairport Convention, heard em on the wireless, American aren't they?" Perused LP front cover - "whaaaat the HELL is this?? What are Standell amps? Hey look, they are plugged into electricity pylons!" Then looked at the back - "Ooh, that little bird singing looks nice, what a lovely dress. And those chaps look pretty cool. And what's that dog doing lying in the middle?".
Played it - "Good stuff, haven't heard these Dylan songs before." Taped it (reel to reel 7 1/2 IPS). Realised I really loved it.
Bought - Unhalfbricking. Finally realised which one Richard Thompson was. Could not believe how good and varied the songs were. Fell in love with Sandy.
And there we are, nearly 40 years later, see you at Cropredy